Coin receiving and reimbursing apparatus

ABSTRACT

AN APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING AND PAYING BACK COINS, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT IT COMPRISES AT LEAST ONE VERTICAL PLATE HAVING FORMED ON ITS FRONT FACE A STORAGE CHANNEL OF ARCUATE CONFIGURATION, SO THAT THE COINS INSETED BY THE USER INTO THE APPARATUS CAN FALL INTO THE LOWER PORTION OF THIS CHANNEL AND ACCUMULATE THEREIN, A MOVABLE MEMBER ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CHANNEL AND ADAPTED TO PUSH THE COINS ACCUMULATED IN SAID STORAGE CHANNEL TOWARDS A HOLE FORMED IN SAID PLATE AT THE UPPER END OF SAID   CHANNEL, SAID HOLE BEING LINED WITH A DIVERTING MEMBER ADAPTED TO DIRECT THE COINS TOWARDS A POSITION OVERLYING THE UPPER ORIFICE OF AN INCLINED TUBE DISPOSED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THE REAR FACE OF SAID PLATE AND WHEREIN THE COINS TO BE DELIVERED FOR REIMBURSEMENT PURPOSE ARE ACCUMULATED.

p 20, 1971 EL DE CREPY 3,605,970

com macmvme AND REIMBURSING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 17, 1970 3 SheetsSheet-1 P 20, 1971 DE CREPY 3,605,970

I COIN RECEIVING AND REIMBUBSING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 17, 1970 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 20, 1971 E. DE CREPY 3,605,970

COIN RECEIVING AND REIMBURSING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 17, 1970 3Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent 3,605,970 COIN RECEIVING ANDREIMBURSING APPARATUS Edouard de Crepy, Paris, France, assignor toSociete Anonyme Francais des Appareils Automatiques Taximetre-Taxiphone,Paris, France Filed Feb. 17, 1970, Ser. No. 12,014 Claims priority,application France, Feb. 18, 1969, 6904035 Int. Cl. G07f 1/00 US. Cl.1941 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for receiving andpaying back coins, characterized in that it comprises at least onevertical plate having formed on its front face a storage channel ofarcuate configuration, so that the coins inserted by the user into theapparatus can fall into the lower portion of this channel and accumulatetherein, a movable member associated with said channel and adapted topush the coins accumulated in said storage channel towards a hole formedin said plate at the upper end of said channel, said hole being linedwith a diverting member adapted to direct the coins towards a positionoverlying the upper orifice of an inclined tube disposed in closeproximity of the rear face of said plate and wherein the coins to bedelivered for reimbursement purpose are accumulated.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for receiving andreimbursing coins.

Apparatus are already known which are adapted to receive coins and tofeed permanently a reserve of coins to permit the reimbursement orgiving of change to a user. A known apparatus of this type comprises arotary drum adapted to stir during a certain time the coins collectedtherein and to cause these coins to be removed from the bottom of thedrum by means of a pawl device. This device pushes the coins into anascending column in which the coins push one another up to a channelleading to the reimbursement device proper.

All these known apparatus are objectionable on account of theirexcessive over-all dimensions and their elaborate structure.

It is the essential object of this invention to avoid theseinconveniences by providing a constructionally simple yet very compactapparatus of the kind disclosed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To this end, the coin receiving and reimbursingapparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that itcomprises at least one vertical plate having formed on its front face astorage channel of arcuate configuration, the coins introduced by theuser into the apparatus falling and accumulating into the lower portionof said arcuate channel, a movable member associated with said channeland adapted to push the coins accumulated in said storage channeltowards a hole formed in said plate at the upper end of said storagechannel, said hole being lined by a diverting member adapted to directthe coins towards a position overlying the upper orifice of a tubedisposed in close proximity of the rear face of said plate and whereinthe coins to be delivered for reimbursement purpose are accumulated.

According to a complementary feature of this invention, said coinstorage channel comprises in its lower portion a retractable pivotingsegment adapted to direct the accumulated coins towards a reimbursementcup.

3,605,970 Patented Sept. 20, 1971 ice In addition to its greatsimplicity, the apparatus of this invention is advantageous in that itis extremely com pact since it occupies about one-third of the volumegenerally accepted for hitherto known apparatus of this kind.

On the other hand, in the apparatus of this invention no coin is kept ina channel from which it cannot be used, in contrast to drum-typeapparatus wherein all the coins constituting the ascending column ofcoins pushing one another are definitely useless throughout the lengthof this path.

Besides, according to another feature characterizing this invention, thetubes used for accumulating coins of dilferent values which are to beused for giving change to the user are an integral part of a samedetachable magazine. Thus, when one or more of these coin-accumulatingtubes is or are full, the coins discharged from the storage channel aresubsequently directed straight to a cash-box in which they are sortedaccording to their values. Thus, the receipts accountancy is greatlyfacilitated since the operator can take directly from this cashbox thereceived coins disposed by categories, and subsequently remove themagazine in service and replace same with an empty magazine of which thecoins have previously been counted and removed therefrom. Under theseconditions, an accurate count of the sums cashed by the apparatus can bekept without difficulty.

A safety device is provided for automatically diverging the coinsdischarged from the storage channel towards said cash-box in case themagazine were not fitted in position.

Furthermore, for reimbursing coins or giving change, a sliding member isdisposed at the bottom of each coinaccumulating tube and this slidingmember urged by spring means is adapted to be coupled under the controlof an electromagnet to a pawl to which a reciprocating motion isapplied, so as to cause the necessary number of coins to drop into thereimbursement cup.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING A typical and preferred form ofembodiment of this invention Will now be described by Way ofillustration with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic vertical section of the apparatus of thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section showing on a larger scale the lower portion of amulti-tube magazine and FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the upper portionof a multi-tube magazine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The apparatus according to thisinvention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is designed for receiving andreimbursing coins having four different values. To this end, itcomprises essentially four vertical parallel plates 1, 2, 3 and 4 havingassociated therewith four tubes 5, 6, 7 and 8, respectively,constituting a coin magazine designated in general by the referencenumeral 9. This magazine 9 comprises a common base plate 11 rigid withsaid tubes 5 to 8. The magazine 9 is detachably mounted in the framestructure 12 of the apparatus, so that it can easily be removed from,and replaced in, its operative position. The magazine 9 is supported bysuitable means not shown to simplify the drawing.

Since the apparatus of this invention actually consists of fourelementary apparatus of identical design, only one of them will bedescribed in detail, namely, the apparatus comprising the vertical plate1 associated with the tube 5 of magazine 9 for receiving and reimbursingcoins of a given value.

As clearly shown in FIG. 1, this tube 5 of magazine 9 is disposedbehind, and adjacent to the rear face of, plate 1. This tube 5 isinclined to the vertical by about 30 but this angular value should notbe construed as limiting the present invention.

On its front face the plate 1 carries a coin-receiving duct 13 inclinedto the horizontal and adapted to receive the coins A inserted by theuser of the apparatus; as they roll down this channel 13 the coins Aengage a coin selector (not shown) of any known and suitable type. If acoin is refused by this selector, it is rejected directly in thedirection of the arrow f into a vertical passage 14 leading into amoney-back cup or trough 15 disposed at the lower portion of theapparatus.

If the coins A are accepted by the selector device they are subsequentlyallowed to proceed along the inclined channel 13 to a position overlyingthe inlet orifice 16 of a storage channel 17 having the configuration ofa circular arc of about 270", into which they fall as shown by the arrowf This channel 17 consists essentially of a pair of concentricpart-circular guide walls, namely an inner wall 18 and an outer wall 19both secured to the front face of plate 1. When the coins A penetrateinto this channel 17 they are retained therein so that they cannotescape therefrom, for example by means of registering flanges or ledges18a, 19a.

At the inlet end of channel 17 a photocell device 21 co-acts with alight source (not shown) so as to emit an electric pulse each time thebeam emitted from the light source is blocked by a coin A. This pulse isdelivered to a counter to detect the number of coins introduced into theapparatus. Also disposed at the inlet end of channel 17 is a switchlever 22 fulcrumed about a horizontal pin 23. This lever 22 pivotsfreely and is formed with a nose 24 adapted, when a coin is dropped intothe channel 17, to move across the orifice 16, due to the engagement ofa shank 25 of this lever 22 which projects into the channel 17 by thefalling coin A. Under these conditions, the nose 24 causes the next coinA to be diverted into the vertical passage 14. Thus, the arrangementwill prevent two coins from being introduced in close succession intothe channel 17 and the photocell device 21 from operating only once, asthis would cause the erroneous transmission of one electric pulseinstead of two.

The coins A introduced into said channel 17 are thus accumulated in thelower portion thereof. Now the maximum storage capacity of this channel17 corresponds, for instance, to ten coins A. If a user introduced aneleventh coin A, this excess coin would be diverted towards the verticalpassage 14 by the switch lever 22.

In the lower portion of the channel 17 the inner guide wall 19 isreplaced or prolonged by a segment 26 pivotally mounted about a pivotpin 27. The pivotal movement of this segment 26 is controlled by theuser when he actuates the pay-back push-button normally provided on thehousing of the apparatus. This control action may take place eitherthrough direct mechanical means or through an electric motor energizedwhen depressing said pushbutton, so as to drive a rotary shaft 30carrying a cam 28 actuating in turn a pivoting lever 29 operativelyconnected through a link 31 to said segment 26.

When the user wishes to recover the coins previously inserted into theapparatus he simply depresses the pay back push-button to cause thepivotal movement of segment 26 which is thus moved to the lower positionshown in dash and dot lines in FIG. 1, so that all the coins containedin the lower portion of channel 17 can fall freely, by gravity, and aredirected by an inclined guide member 32 in the direction shown by thearrow f towards the pay-back cup 15.

The payment of the coins A accumulated in the lower portion of channel17 is positively facilitated by the provision of a discharge stud orbrush 33 carried by the outer end of a radial arm 34 rigid with a shaft35 extending through the four plates 1 to 4. This shaft '35 is rotatablydriven from an electric motor 40 so as to perform a complete revolutioneach time the payment of coins must take place. This can occur when theservice demanded to the apparatus has been performed (such as the saleof an article, the delivery of a ticket, etc.), and causes a Sale signalto be emitted for energizing this electric motor. Thus, the arm 34 isrotated in the counterclockwise direction (FIG. 1) and its stud or brush33 engages the last coin A introduced into the apparatus, which lies inthe lower portion of said arcuate channel 17. Then the stud 33 pushesthe series of coins A up the right-hand portion of channel 17 (FIG. 1)until they register with an orifice formed in plate 1 and provided witha deflector 36. This deflector 36 consists of a metal blade bent towardsthe rear of plate 1 and adapted to modify the plane in which the coins Alie initially, so as to guide them one by one and allow them to dropinto the upper open orifice of the inclined tube 5. Thus, the coins Afall in succession into the tube 5 where they are sorted in apredetermined order and eventually stacked as shown in dash lines in thebottom portion of tube 5 (FIG. 1). When the tube 5 is filled with coins,the extra coins directed to the top of the stack of coins contained inthe tube 5 are diverted in the direction of the arrow f; towards anotherinclined tube 37 and fed to a channel leading to a cash-box.

The coins A are also diverted directly as shown by the arrow 1 towardsthe storage cash-box in case the magazine 9 were not properlypositioned. In fact, as better shown in FIG. 4, if the tube 5 were notpresent a blade 38 would be interposed at the position normally occupiedby the top orifice of tube 5. This blade 38 is slidably mounted andfurthermore pivoted to an arm 39 pivoted in turn about a pin 41 andformed with a lateral nose extension 42. This nose extension 42 normallyprojects into the path of the upper end of tube 5 when the magazine 9 isre-inserted into the apparatus to its operative position. As long as thetube 5 is not in its ultimate and proper position the blade 38 projectsinto the space normally occupied by the upper end of the tube 5 and isthus adapted to divert the coins issuing from the arcuate channel 17towards the storage cash-box. On the other hand, when the magazine 9 isfitted in position by pushing the tube 5 upwards, the upper end of thistube engages the nose extension 42 and causes the arm 39 to pivot in theclockwise direction, thus causing the blade 38 to be retracted to theleft and upwards, as shown by the dash and dot lines in FIG. 4. In thisretracted position of blade 38 the coins A can fall freely into the tube5.

The change is given, for each coin having a predetermined excess value,by means of an electromagnet 43 comprising a pivoting armature 44 actingupon a pawl 45 reciprocated by a mechanism 46 driven from an electricmotor 47. The pawl 45 has a hook-shaped end 4511 co-acting with a finger48 rigid with a sliding member 49. This member 49 is slidably mounted inthe base member 11 of magazine 9 so as to either close the lower end oftube 5 or free same to permit the fall of one coin at a time. Thesliding member 48 is urged by spring means 51 to its inoperativeposition in which it closes the lower end of tube 5.

Each reciprocation of sliding member 49 which corresponds to thereimbursement of one coin is detected by a photocell device 50 emittingupon each beam-blocking step a pulse fed to a counter. The electromagnet43 remains energized during a number of reciprocations of pawl 45 whichcorresponds to the number of coins to be paid back. Throughout this timeperiod, the armature 44 of this electromagnet causes the pawl 45 to beoperatively connected to the finger 48, thus moving the sliding member49.

When the number of coins paid back equals the desired number, theelectromagnet 43vis de-energized, the pawl 45 is disconnected fromfinger 48 and the sliding member 49 resumes its inoperative position todiscontinue the coin payment operation.

When the number of coins contained in tube becomes inferior to apredetermined minimum value, for example ten, corresponding to themaximum number of coins likely to be reimbursed by the apparatus, asignal warns the user of this condition and requests him to pay theexact amount. The safety device provided to this end consists of anotherphotocell device 53 disposed at the lower end of tube 5, externallythereof, and registering with a hole 54 formed through the wall of thetube. Opposite this hole 54 is another hole 55 registering with a lightsource 56. As long as the tube 5 contains a sufi'lcient number of coins,these coins block the light beam emitted from the light source 56towards the photocell 53, so that the apparatus operates normally. Whenthe number of coins in the tube drops below the predetermined number orvalue, the photocell 53 is illuminated by the light source 56 andcontrols an electronic device of known type which delivers acorresponding signal.

Of course, the forms of embodiment illustrated, described and suggestedherein are given by way of example only and should not be construed aslimiting the present invention, since many modifications may be broughtthereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asset forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for receiving and paying back coins which comprises atleast one vertical plate having a front face and a rear face, a storagechannel of part-circular configuration formed on the front face of saidvertical plate, said storage channel having an inlet, an outlet and alower intermediate portion in which the coins introduced by a user aredirected and accumulated by gravity, a member rotatable in said storagechannel and adapted to push the coins accumulated in said lower portionof said storage channel, means for rotatably driving said member aboutan axis coincident with the centre of said part-circular storagechannel, a hole formed through said plate at the outlet of said storagechannel which is positioned at an upper portion of said channel wherethe coins are pushed by said rotary member, a coin diverting memberlining said hole and a con-accumulating tube disposed in close vicinityof the rear face of said plate and adapted to receive through an upperorifice the coins falling through said hole and guided by said divertingmember, whereby the coins intended for reimbursing purposes accumulatein said tube.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, which comprises a radial arm,a. driving shaft extending through said plate, coaxially to said storagechannel, a finger carried by said radial arm and so disposed as todescribe a circular path in said storage channel for pushing the coinstherein, and an electric motor operatively connected to said drivingshaft for rotatably driving said shaft along one revolution each timesaid electric motor is energized.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, which comprises on said frontface of said plate a duct for introducing coins which is inclined to thehorizontal and opens above the inlet of said storage channel.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, which comprises at the inlet ofsaid storage channel a photocell device for counting the coins, aswitching lever and a pivot pin carried by said plate and adapted to actas a fulcrum to said switching lever, said switching lever comprising alower shank projecting into said storage channel and an upper noseadapted to be placed across said storage channel when a coin fallinginto said storage channel moves the lower shank of said lever outwardly,and a reimbursement cup toward which a coin following immediately a coinjust introduced into said storage channel is adapted to be diverted bysaid switching lever.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said storage channel isbounded by an internal guide member and an external guide member bothconsisting of a concentric strip extending along a circular arc of about270 degrees and secured to said plate.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said external guidemember of said storage channel is discontinued along its lower portionand comprises therealong a segment constituting the extension of saidexternal guide member, a pin to which said segment is pivotally mounted,means controlled by the user of the apparatus for pivoting said segment,and an inclined duct for reimbursement coins which is disposed beneathsaid pivoting segment for directing the reimbursement coins to theexterior of the apparatus.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, which comprises a plurality ofvertical plates and a detachable magazine on which are mounted thevarious coin-accumulating tubes associated with the different plates foraccumulating coins of different values for remibursement purpose, saidcoin accumulating tubes having an upper portion and a lower portion.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7, which comprises a leverpivotally mounted on said plate in near the upper portion of saidcoin-accumulating tube, a blade operatively connected to said pivotinglever and mounted above the upper orifice of said coin-accumulatingtube, said pivoting lever normally projecting across the upper portionof said coin-accumulating tube when said magazine is fitted in position,in order to retract said sliding member in this case, said slidingmember being adapted to divert the coins towards a cash-box when nomagazine is present in the apparatus.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said magazine comprisesa common base on which each coinaccumulating tube is mounted, areimbursement member slidably mounted under each tube, a springassociated with each sliding member, a reciprocating-motion drivingmechanism and an electromagnet associated with each sliding member forselectively coupling said sliding member to said reciprocating-motiondriving mechanism.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9, which comprises a pair ofholes formed through the lower portion of each coin-accumulating tube, alight source disposed on one side of said tube and registering with afirst one of said holes, and a photocell device disposed on an oppositeside of said tube and registering with a second one of said holes inorder to detect if the coins contained in said tube drops below apredetermined minimum value.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,204,845 6/1940 Dahlstrom 194-982,649,948 8/1953 Tawney 19485 2,973,076 2/1961 Hatcher 194-10 2,988,1916/1961 Grant l94--1.9

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner T. E. KOCOVSKY, Assistant ExaminerU.S. Cl. X.R.

1332; 194Dig. 3, Dig. 15

